Together for a Sustainable, Climate-Resilient, and Liveable Green Campus – Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at the Hochschule Bonn Rhein-Sieg - A case study

Abstract

This paper outlines the implementation of the interdisciplinary course “Green Campus: Together for a Sustainable, Climate-Resilient, and Livable University” with the objective of engaging students in developing ideas for a sustainable campus by building ESD competencies, such as active participation and reflective and critical thinking. It employed a problem-based learning approach to generate ideas on climate adaptation, waste management, and noise pollution. The framework for the course was based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the climate adaptation strategy of the city of Sankt Augustin, and the sustainability strategy and infrastructure plans for a Green Campus at Hochschule Bonn Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS). To facilitate this, students conducted independent research in groups, used relevant crowd-sourcing apps and measuring devices, collected and mapped data, conducted interviews and surveys, and engaged with local stakeholders, including other students and representatives of the university’s facility and sustainability management.